Current Site Status

The Camilla Wood Preserving Company site includes the area where a wood-treating facility operated from 1947 until 1991. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1998 because of contaminated soil and ground water resulting from facility operations. EPA and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (Georgia EPD) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. Site contamination does not currently threaten people living and working near the site. By conducting cleanup activities, EPA and Georgia EPD continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.

Site Location and Background

The 40-acre site is located in Camilla, a small town in Mitchell County in southwest Georgia. The western area of the site includes soccer fields and a recreational complex. The eastern area of the site remains vacant. Site surroundings include residential, commercial and light industrial land uses. Residential areas border the site to the north, a forested area borders the site to the west, a football stadium, a Georgia Department of Transportation equipment area and several businesses border the site to the east, along Thomas Street, and a municipal water tower, a stormwater retention basin and forested lands border the site to the south. Neighborhoods next to the site include low-income and minority residents.

Louis Wood Preserving Company operated a wood-treating facility at the site from 1947 until 1950. The Escambia Treating Company purchased the facility in 1950 and continued wood-treating operations. The Camilla Wood Preserving Company assumed operations from the Escambia Treating Company and continued operating until 1991, when the facility shut down. In 1989, EPA listed the site on the NPL.

In 2007, the City of Camilla redeveloped approximately 25 acres of the western part of the site into soccer fields and a recreation complex. The eastern part of the site is fenced and vacant. Cleanup activities for this area are ongoing. Following cleanup, the City of Camilla plans to redevelop the area into a recreational use facility.

EPA assessed whether residents or workers might be at risk from harmful ground water vapors in buildings. EPA found that vapor intrusion did not pose a threat to residents and workers. The use of fencing and warning signs addressed all other threats at the site.

Placing institutional controls on the site property to limit future land uses to non-residential uses, prohibit use of ground water for drinking water, and prohibit soil removal or digging within the treated material area.

Cleanup Progress

In 1991, EPA conducted short-term cleanup activities, including placing a fence around the site property, treating 95,000 gallons of on-site wastewater and solidifying contaminated materials and placing them in an on-site storage area.

In 1994, EPA treated an additional 52,000 gallons of on-site water. EPA removed and disposed of 30,723 gallons of contaminated materials at an off-site disposal facility.

In 2007, EPA dug up and removed contaminated soils from the western part of the site.

EPA completed the cleanup plan design in 2011 and began remedial action in 2012.

Enforcement Activities

Community Involvement

EPA has worked with the community and its state partner to develop a long-term cleanup plan for the site, reflecting the Agency’s commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection. Community engagement and public outreach are core components of EPA program activities.

EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities to solicit community input and to make sure the public remains informed about site activities throughout the cleanup process. Outreach efforts have included public notices and information meetings.

EPA has also supported the City of Camilla’s efforts to identify potential future land uses for the site.

Future Work

The remedial design was completed in February 2011. Remedial action began at the Site in January 2012 and will likely be completed by September 2014. To date, there has been a stormwater detention basin, a vertical barrier wall, and an engineered cap completed. Remaining items include completing in-situ groundwater treatment in the intermediate aquifer and Site finish work.